Travel System Help - Small Boot

[nct73]

I am obsessively ogling other mums' buggies/travel systems but when ever I ask what's that, it seems to have been discontinued by now. I have the old small boot problem - vw polo. Really need something max 90cm long so all the "umbrella" fold types are out.
Had a look at some in Toys r us but all had bad points - Britax Ultra - fiddly bar thingy to fit car seat, Graco Aerosport - doesnt stand up as promised but also v specific boy/girl colours, Graco Mirage - I liked except I like the one hand fold of other Gracos. Also checked out Mothercare Altan but only settings are upright & flat.
Online I like the Hauck Infinity and the Janus Petite Star. Both promise to be less than 90 cm but someone on here said had trouble fitting Infinity into their boot. I can't find anywhere in Manchester area that stocks them so I can try them out - fold, adjust seat, size etc. Anyone give me pros & cons on these from experience? Also anyone know good buggy shops in the Manc area which might sell these? John Lewis in Cheadle was v disappointing with only one (Ariel) which would fit in our car. It was all Bugaboos, Silvercross & Zapp.
Also any other recommendations for small folded travel systems? Do I need a travel system or should I just go for separate buugy & car seat as I have been offered both a standard and lying down Jane car seat from a friend whose dd is now too big for them. Unfortunately a compatable buggy would not fit in my boot. Advice please?

you dont need a travel system as long as you have a lie flat buggy.

however one travel system that make work is the bebeconfort loola with a creatis car seat. HTH.

i had the same problem, nct73, i've got an old fiat panda that keeps on passing its MOT so i'm not getting rid of it.

you can probably get the mamas and papas pliko, that's what i kept on being advised to get when i was looking for a buggy. but i wanted a continuous handle, as i knew i would want one hand free to gesticulate wildly to bad 4x4 drivers (it turns out i was right about this...)

i went for the Jane Nomad, and i LOVE it. it's got suspension, a continuous handle, nice big back wheels, front and back suspension, double front wheels so easy for kerbs. there is not a bad thing about it. even better, it comes with a lie-flat car seat (the matrix) so you can drive around without the baby's head being bonked around like a bladder on a stick. and the car seat is also the carry cot part for the buggy, and it just clicks in and out of the frame so there's no fannying about with converters or anything.

i'd be pretty jealous if you got a new one, by the way, as they have just brought out a range of new colours... they look gorgeous.

you might have to take one wheel off the buggy to get it in but you just press a button and it comes off so it's no hassle.

the price is steep, though, i think we paid about £500 altogether but you can get them for £400 online. and remember, you aren't having to pay for a car seat seperately...

honsetly, i cannot recommend it too highly. i've tried my friends' plikos and bugaboos and this is better.

Mamas and Papas Pliko Pramette with carseat. My friend had an old renault clio and a renault 5 and it fitted into the boots of both. It umbrella folds so it's not that wide, and the handle height is adjustable. Have you got an independent nursery shop near you? they tend to have a reasonable range and are quite knowledgeable.

It is more important that the car seat fits well than that it forms a travel system, and this can be more problematic with small cars and short seat belts so chocie may be limited. If you are likely to keep the car long term then I'd make that your priority and if the compatible pushchair also fits it is a bonus. btw the lie- flat carrycot style Jane seat had a poor Which ? safety review as a car set and may well not fit your car securely.

well, there's also a rebel carseat which is a more traditional shape but it does mean that you will have to use the lie flat feature of the nomad buggy. which is excellent, but personally i liked having the baby facing me. at the time i checked into the poor Which review and was quite satisfied with all the other tests that had been done on it. i was also given a Very Good Explanation for why the Which report hadn't compared like with like but i'm kicking myself as i can't remember why it was now. i would always investigate the safety of the car seat... that's the most important thing of course.
i was also limited in terms of the car seats i could get because the webbing on my back seat belts was too long, so i had buckle crunch with every one i tried bar the matrix and the rebel seats. it was a colossal pain in the neck, to be honest, and i found that a lot of the salespeople were rude and unsympathetic because i didn't have a 4x4. not wanting to depress you, but they can be right gits.

If I had the choice again on my budget I would have bought any car seat with more than one position,if that's right for newborns (checking up to date safety as advised below), and a second-hand Maclaren Triumph, plus perhaps a second-hand Quest as well as it's a bit lighter once you're into six months on.

On a larger budget I would investigate a real pram or buggy where the baby faces you.

do u mean a 2nd hand techno, because the triuphm doesnt lie flat.

The family i'm with at the moment have a vw polo 02 and the bugaboo carrycot and frame fit in the boot, i removed the top back wheel to flatten the parcel shelf also fits Avent baby backpack.

The handle on the bug is almost fully extended and still fits.

I love the jane matrix car seat and if retainers are fitted correctly on the car seat belts it is very firmly in place, it also can be used as a traditional styled car seat but with the advantage of reclining when out and about.

When I bought my travel system I measured my boot and took the size with me before I got it.

oh bollards, yes i meant a techno, thanks misdee